Method and device for facilitating the movement of the traveler around the ring of aring spinning machine



June 20, 1967 P. ALBERTO ETAL 3,325,986

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAVELER AROUND THE RING OF A RING SPINNING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18. 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 R I INVENTOR$ M07780 G/o/v y Pie-rec Aaecem June 20, 1967 P. ALBERTO ETAL 3,325,986

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAVELER AROUND THE RING OF A RING SPINNING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1965 5 Sheets$heet 2 l INVENTORS "41760 604.010

BY P161190 Kksqro June 20, 1967 P. ALBERTO ETAL 3,325,986

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAVELER AROUND THE RING OF A RING SPINNING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet s w .W lb

INVENTORS N0 r7290 GILLOIYO 13y P 57 90 64664 0 United States Patent 3,325,986 METHDD AND DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE MOVEMENT OF THE TRAVELER AROUND THE RING OF A RING SPINNING MACHINE Pietro Alberto, 16 Via Lamarmora, Biella, Italy, and Matteo Gillono, 7 Via San Loreazo, Ivrea, Italy Filed Aug. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 480,722 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug. 18, 1964, 17,944/64, Patent 50,355; 17,945/64, Patent 50,356 6 Claims. (Cl. 57101) This invention relates to a method and a device for facilitating and augmenting the movement of the traveler around the ring of a ring spinning or twisting machine.

In the process of ring spinning, a drafted roving is twisted into yarn and wound on a bobbin simultaneously and continuously. The bobbin is mounted on a rotatable spindle. Disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and designed to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin is a smooth ring over which is slidably engaged a small piece of steel wire or plastic known as a traveler through which the yarn is fed. The traveler is dragged by the yarn around the ring as the yarn is collected on the bobbin. The ring moves longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin so that the yarn is laid down as a close succession of coils on the bobbin. That is, the spindle, carrying a wood, paper or metal bobbin, projects vertically through the horizontal ring. The drafted roving runs from feed rollers in the drafting system to the traveler and then to the bobbin, where it is collected. As the bobbin revolves with the spindle the yarn drags the traveler around the ring because the spindle speed is greater than the speed at which the feed rollers supply the drafted roving. The motion of the traveler imparts twist into the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin.

Heretofore, the rate of spinning has been limited by the occurrence of excessive tension in the spun yarns as it drags the treveler around the ring at high speed. As the radius from the axis of rotation of the spindle of the point at which the yarn is being laid down on the bobbin changes, the speed at which the yarn drags the traveler varies considerably, since the feed rate of the drafted roving remains constant.

For instance, as yarn winds around the conical portion of a bobbin, to obtain a uniform winding of the yarn, the spindle speed has to be less when yarn is winding at the top or smallest diameter portion of the conus than it is when the yarn is winding at the base or portion of maximum diameter of the conus to avoid excessive tension in the yarn as it drags the traveler, due to the increased speed of rotation of the traveler around the ring (when yarn is being wound at the top of the conus).

Th limitation on the permissible rotational speed of the traveler is caused in large part by the resistance to motion around the ring which the ring itself supplies. This resistance is due to friction between the traveler and the ring, which friction is a function of the centrifugal force, acting on the traveler, the variation in the angle at which the yarn passes through the traveler as the point at which the yarn is being laid down on the bobbin changes, and air friction.

It was hitherto thought that the only means for compensating for the increased tension in the yarn as it dragged the traveler at high speeds was to vary the speed of either the spindle or the feed rollers. The most common solution was a variable-speed spindle motor. These motors progressively changed the spindle rotation speed as the point of laying down the twisted yarn varied from the portion of minimum diameter of the conus to the portion of maximum diameter of the conus. Thus, as the point of laying down the yarn on a bobbin became closer ice and closer to the portion of minimum diameter of the conus, the speed of spindle rotation would decrease. Otherwise, the speed of rotation of the traveler around the ring would become excessive and the tension induced in the yarn as it dragged the traveler at greater and greater speeds would cause the yarn to break.

An object of this invention is to solve the problem created by the limitation of the speed at which the traveler rotates around the ring because of the presence of excessive tension in the yarn as it drags the traveler around the ring.

A further object of this invention is to permit increased rotational velocity of the traveler around the ring by assisting with external means the movement of the traveler around the ring, thus reducing the tension imparted to the yarn as it drags the traveler around the ring.

Yet another object of this invention is to assist and augment the rotational movement of the traveler around the ring by means of a flow of air or other gas, thus compensating for the frictional and other resistances to the motion of the traveler.

In brief, this invention is to facilitate the rotational motion of the traveler and ring guide by directing a stream of air or other gas from a nozzle into a conduit adjacent to the ring to impart a variable thrust on the traveler, thus permitting increased rotational velocity of the traveler without exceeding the permissible tension on the yarn as it drags the traveler around the ring.

The invention will be more easily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, applied to the ring and spindle of a typical ring spinning machine;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the same device;

FIG. 4 is schematic elevational view of the same device showing a conical bobbin upon which yarn is being wound;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the conical bobbin with yarn being wound at the conus base;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of the conical bobbin with yarn being wound at the conus top; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the air or other gas is supplied through a plurality of openings around the circumference of a conduit adjacent to the ring.

An understanding of the invention will be aided by referring first to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, which illustrate the additional problem created by the continual variation of the angle formed by the twisted yarn 13 as it passes through the traveler 15. FIG. 4 shows a bobbin 12 for collecting twisted yarn 13, which bobbin 12 has conical portions. FIG. 6 shows the yarn 13 being laid down on the bobbin 12 at point X. The twisted yarn 13 forms the angle A as it passes through the traveler 15 between the feed (not shown) and the point X at which the yarn is being laid down on the bobbin 12. FIG. 5 shows the twisted yarn 13 being laid down on the spindle 10 at point Y on the conus portion of the bobbin 12, and the angle B formed by the yarn 12 as it passes through the traveler 15 and ring 16 between the feed rollers and the point Y where the yarn is being laid down on the bobbin 12. As pointed out above, the tension on the yarn 13 is greater when it is being laid down at point X because it is required to drag the traveler 15 at a greater rotational velocity than is the case when the yarn is being laid down at point Y of the conus. Additionally, the angle A is more acute than the angle B. Consequently, the radial force imposed on the twisted yarn as it drags the traveler 15 is heightened where the yarn passes through the traveler 15 when the twisted yarn 13 is being laid down at portion X of the conus due to increased friction between the traveler 15 and ring 16.

By assisting the movement of the traveler 15 and ring 16 when twisted yarn 13 is being laid down on the bobbin 12 at portion X, the present invention alleviates the excessive tension which would otherwise be induced in the yarn 13 due to the excessive speed of rotation of the traveler 15 and also to the sharp angle formed by the yarn 13 as it passes through the traveler 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, FIG. 2 shows spindle mounted on power shaft 111 with bobbin 12 upon which some yarn 13 has been twisted and wound. Yarn 13 comes from feed rollers (not shown in the drawings) by means of feed apparatus 14 and passes through traveler 15 which rotates slidably in a circular path around the ring 16. Table 17 of the spinning or twisting machine supports the ring 16 and moves up and down longitudinally along the axis of the spindle 10 so that the yarn is laid down as a close succession of coils on the bobbin 12.

Spindle 10 during this rotational motion exerts a tension on the yarn which is being twisted. The yarn is being fed by the feed rollers at a rate which is less than the rate on which the spindle 10 could collect the twisted yarn. Consequently, the tension induced in the yarn by the rotation of the spindle 10 is dissipated in dragging the traveler 15 around the ring 16.

Overlying the ring .16 is placed a U-shaped housing 18 which forms conduit 19. The conduit 19 is approximately coextensive with the ring 16. At one portion of the housing 18 there is an interruption 20 in the housing at which compressed air or other gas is introduced into the conduit 19 ttormed by the housing 18 by a swinging nozzle 22, the discharge point of which is located at point 22A or point 22B depending on the angular position of the nozzle 22. Thus, the swinging nozzle 22 may be oriented according to the direction of spindle 10 rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise), the direction of flow of the compressed air or other gas corresponding to the direction of rotation of the traveler 15 around the ring 16. Thus, the movement of the traveler 15 is augmented.

In lieu of nozzle 22, many nozzles or holes for introducing air may be provided, disposed circumferentially around the housing 18 and conduit 19 as shown in FIG. 7. There compressed air or other gas is supplied from supply lines 24 and 25 to separate chambers 26 and 27, respectively. To supply a thrust to the traveler 15 when the yarn 13 is dragging it around the ring 16 in a counterclockwise direction, compressed air or other gas is supplied through supply line 25 into chamber 27 from which the air or other gas is in turn forced into the conduit -19 through a plurality of passages 28 disposed periodically around the radially innermost surface of chamber 27 and the radially outermost surface of conduit 19, whereby each passage supplies a small thrust against the traveler 15 when it passes through the immediate zone of that particular passage, thus assisting the movement of the traveler 15 around the ring 16 in a counter-clockwise direction. When the traveler 15 is being dragged by the yarn 13 around the ring 16 in a clockwise direction, compressed air or other gas is introduced through the supply line 24 into chamber 26, from which it is in turn directed into conduit 19 by means of passages 29 disposed periodically to lead from the radially innermost surface of chamber 26 to the radially outermost surface of conduit 19. The compressed air or other gas which is thus introduced into the conduit 19 through each passage would supply a small thrust against the traveler 15 when it passes through the immediate zone of the outlet of that particular passage.

Instead of varying the air pressure supplied to the nozzle 22, for changing the thrust imparted to the traveler 15, it is possible to have a nozzle of variable diameter such that the required variation in the amount of assistance provided for the movement of the traveler could be varied with a constant supply of pressure.

Another variation of the invention is to employ chemical ingredients or lubricants in the compressed air or other gas stream created by the nozzle 22 to improve the contunity and quality of the spinning or twisting operation. Thus, a lubricant adapted to the material being worked by the machine may be added to reduce the friction between the traveler 15 and the ring 16 and between the yarn 13 and the traveler .15. The quality and quantity of lubricants so supplied could be varied according to the material being twisted and to the speed of feeding and collecting the material.

The shape of the conduit 19 formed by housing 18, and its location, that is, above, below or on the inner or outer surface of the ring 16, may be varied at will depending on the ring 16 and traveler 15 required by the nature of the yarns being worked.

The air or other gas flowing in the conduit 19 could also operate on an intermediate member which would in turn transmit motion to the traveler either through direct contact or magnetic induction.

The embodiment has been described in connection with a gaseous fluid since it is convenient to use air under pressure. However, any fluid, liquid or gaseous, may be employed. Indeed, a liquid fluid might be preferable if ever higher traveler15 speeds were desired since a liquid could provide a greater force against the traveler and act as a I more effective lubricant between traveler 15 and ring 16.

What is claimed is:

1. In a yarn spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to the ring and adapted to be dragged around the ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising means for augmenting the motion of the traveler induced by the dragging of the traveler by the yarn, whereby the traveler by being advanced around the ring by the augmenting means as well as by dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbin at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

2. In a yarn spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to the ring and adapted to be dragged around the ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising means overlying the ring for forming a fluid conduit adjacent thereto, the traveler being adapted to pass through the conduit as it travels about the ring, and means for directing a stream of fluid through the conduit means to urge the traveler to advance around the ring, whereby the traveler by being advanced around the ring by the stream of fluid as well as by the dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbin at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

3. In a yam spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to ,the ring and adapted to be dragged around the ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising a U-shaped housing overlying and disposedin facing relation with the ring for forming a fluid conduit adjacent thereto, the traveler being adapted to pass through the conduit as it travels about the ring, and means for directing a stream of fluid through the conduit means to urge the traveler to ad- Vance around the ring, whereby the traveler by being advanced around the ring by the stream of fluid as well as by the dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbin at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

4. In a yarn spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to the ring and adapted to be dragged around the ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising a U-shaped housing overlying all but a small portion of the ring and disposed in facing relation thereto for forming a fluid conduit adjacent thereto, the traveler being adapted to pass through the conduit as it travels about the ring, and a pivotally mounted nozzle having its opening adjacent to the exposed portion of the ring for directing a stream of fluid through the conduit means in either direction tangential t0 the ring to urge the traveler to advance around the ring, whereby the traveled by being advanced around the ring by the stream of fluid as well as by the dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbin at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

5. In spinning yarn on a spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to the ring and adapted to be dragged aroundthe ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising introducing a gas into a fluid conduit adjacent to the ring, the traveler being adapted to pass through the conduit as it travels about the ring, and directing a stream of the gas through the conduit to urge the traveler to advance around the ring, whereby the traveler by being advanced around the ring by the stream of fluid as well as by the dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbin at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

6. In a yarn spinning machine having a bobbin, a spindle for rotating the bobbin, a ring disposed circumferentially about the bobbin and adapted to move longitudinally along the axis of rotation of the bobbin, and a traveler slidably engaged to the ring and adapted to be dragged around the ring by the yarn in order to twist the yarn as it is laid down on the bobbin in a succession of coils, the improvement comprising means overlying the ring for forming a fluid conduit adjacent thereto, the traveler being adapted to pass through the conduit as it travels about the ring, and one or more chambers containing a gas under pressure adjacent to the conduit means and with a plurality of circumferential openings into the conduit means, for directing a stream of the gas through the conduit means to urge the traveler to advance around the ring, whereby the traveler by being advanced around the ring by the stream of fluid as well as by the dragging of the yarn can apply the yarn to the bobbins at high winding speeds without excessively tensioning the yarn.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,907,165 10/1959 Adams et a1. 57-75 FOREIGN PATENTS 178,959 11/ 1906 Germany. 179,620 12/ 1906 Germany.

FRANK I COHEN, Primary Examiner.

I. PETRAKES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A YARN SPINNING MACHINE HAVING A BOBBIN, A SPINDLE FOR ROTATING THE BOBBIN, A RING DISPOSED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT THE BOBBIN AND ADPATED TO MOVE LONGITUNDIALLY ALONG THE AXIS ROTATION OF THE BOBBIN, AND A TRAVELER SLIDABLY ENGAGED TO THE RING AND ADAPTED TO BE DRAGGED AROUND THE RING BY THE YARN IN ORDER TO TWIST THE YARN AS IT IS LAID DOWN ON THE BOBBIN IN A SUCCESSION OF COILS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING MEANS FOR AUGMENTING THE MOTION OF THE TRAVELER INDUCED BY THE DRAGGING OF THE TRAVELER BY THE YARN, WHEREBY THE TRAVELER BY BEING ADVANCED AROUND THE RING BY THE AUGMENTING MEANS AS WELL AS BY DRAGGING OF THE YARN CAN APPLY THE YARN TO THE BOBBIN AT HIGH WINDING SPEEDS WITHOUT EXCESSIVELY TENSIONING THE YARN. 